Landlord Dodges Jail Time In Attempted Self-Help Eviction; Gets 2 Years Deferred Adjudication After Copping Plea For Pointing Loaded Rifle At Tenants While Trying To Give Them The Boot

In Lufkin, Texas, KTRE-TV Channel 9 reports:

• A 67-year-old Lufkin man accepted a plea bargain deal of two years of deferred adjudication for pointing a rifle at people he was trying to evict from his property back in May.
  
  As part of the plea bargain deal that was approved by Judge Paul White of the 159th Judicial District Court, Tex William Sutton pleaded guilty to a lesser charge – misdemeanor terroristic threat.
  
  Angelina County District Attorney Joe Martin said although the plea bargain agreement was made by the previous administration, his office is obligated to follow it. However, he did say he believes the sentence is fair.
  
  When Sutton was arrested on May 26, he was originally charged with second-degree felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was released from the jail on June 13 after he posted a bail amount of $2,500.
  
  According to Angelina County Sheriff Greg Sanches, Sutton went to the sheriff’s office on May 26 and said he wanted to evict some tenants from his property. Someone with the ACSO told Sutton that it was a civil process, and explained what Sutton needed to do.
  
  Sutton left the sheriff’s office, and ACSO deputies responded to a disturbance in the 3000 block of Oakwood Drive at about 7:24 a.m. on May 26. When deputies arrived on the scene, the tenants told them that when they went out to investigate the noise, Sutton pointed a loaded rifle at them in an effort to get them to leave his property.
  
  The sheriff’s office daily activity report said that Sutton also threatened them verbally.

Source: Lufkin man accepts 2 years deferred for pointing rifle at tenants facing eviction.